Tony Blauer of Blauer Tactical Systems is a combat specialist and the creator of the SPEAR System—spontaneous protection enabling accelerated response.

In Part 1, Blauer introduced the Cycle of Behavior at a seminar held at CrossFit Santa Cruz. In Part 2, Blauer continues his discussion of behavioral patterning by talking about skills to manage FEAR—false expectations appearing real and false evidence appearing real. According to Blauer, to escape the FEAR loop of paralysis in the face of danger, you need to act. Make getting to safety your goal and take action to get there without over-thinking. The plan will happen as you move.

Let Blauer teach you how to get a handle on your fear and escape threatening situations.

4 Comments on “The Cycle of Behavior: Part 2”

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wrote …

This seems like good advice, but as I don't often get into situations like Tony describes, I can't say for sure. However, it struck me that this is totally relevant to business/work situations as well. In meetings and presentations, or while pitching new ideas internally, we face the same cycle of fear all the time. I just presented to a large potential client the other day, and the emotional cycle that takes place in such a stressful environment is identical to a fight or flight situation that Tony describes (except for the machete part, of course!!) - the temptation to over-think and to visualize a negative outcome is strong and needs to be shut down to perform at a high level. I think it is a great framework for dealing with such things...

Training in the SPEAR system with Coach Blauer is an awesome experience. One of the stories that sticks in my mind is about this COB model. Blauer, working with some real high speed mil/leo types, introduces the COB to them. A guy comes back and tells him he had success with it. Blauer is turned on thinking how cool he used my stuff to save the world kill bad guys etc. The guy recants his story how he told his wife about the COB who in turn uses it to ask her boss for the raise she had been avoiding and gets the raise.

Many stories like this are echoed about using the COB for "non-self defense" scenarios. The funny thing is that confrontation in its most primal essence is about survivability. I use the COB during every WOD to manage my fear. Failure has changed from primitive times. Failure of hunting/gathering food meant death, failure in a wod does not...or does it. Not literaly of course but in what used to be fighting to be dominant male meant beter mate selection and better survival of our race. Modern competition has replaced these basic battles for survival i.e. CrossFit. It's been the case for study through time of various cultures how we have replaced our real world dangers with social rituals from ancient gladiators to football.

Long story short, the COB is an invaluable tool for your psychological/F.E.A.R. management tool box wether you're fighting bad guys or fighting those pre-wod jitters, or askig your boss for a promotion ;)

Tony I thought this was great. I have a son that plays basketball and he lives in the fear loop. He is very talented and highly skilled, but he tellm me exactly what you described. he play out a scenario of failure before anything has happened, and the situation ends up bad anyway. What can I do to help him he is a freshman.

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